Celtic ready to move for Robson

Celtic are considering a January transfer move for Dundee United's Barry Robson. The midfielder, who would cost about £1m, has been strongly recommended to Gordon Strachan, the Celtic manager, by his domestic scouts. Robson would almost certainly accept any move to Parkhead, and an increase on his current basic wage of £3,200 a week.

Robson, a Scotland international and one-time Rangers youth player, was the subject of a failed bid by Hearts during the last transfer window and it is likely they will renew their interest when the transfer market reopens.

However, Strachan has more than £5m at his immediate disposal to ensure Celtic would be firm favourites to sign Robson in the event of any bidding war. Strachan is likely to sign at least four players to bolster his depleted squad next month and the 29-year-old would provide ideal back-up for the likes of Aiden McGeady and Shunsuke Nakamura. The latter is expected to return to action in mid-January following a knee injury.

Shaun Maloney, linked with a return to Celtic, has stated publicly that he feels he will remain at Aston Villa, while Sevilla have rejected a request from the Scottish champions to take the full-back Andreas Hinkel on loan.

Strachan, meanwhile, has revealed that his experience of being sacked by Coventry City in 2001 has benefited his career. "I didn't want anybody to speak to me about football any more, I really didn't, because you think you've failed," he said. "That was the first time I'd really been, in my adult career, identified with failure.

"I wasn't sure how to handle it. I felt, 'You've let people down, people that trusted you.' Later on, when I look at it now, I think it was rough, it was hard. But I think if I didn't do that I definitely couldn't do what I'm doing now. It's all part of the big picture."

Strachan also paid his latest tribute to Sir Alex Ferguson, the pair having endured an occasionally troubled relationship during spells at Aberdeen and Manchester United. "I said he [Ferguson] was a bully but I never said I didn't like him," Strachan said. "He was good for me. He's good for anyone who has worked with him. I think he's the best manager of all time."

Stephen Kenny, sacked as the Dunfermline Athletic manager earlier this month, is poised to accept a three-year contract to return to another of his former clubs, Derry City.

Sign up for the Guardian Today

Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.